Sunday, November 16, 2008

EnviroFlash gives instant air quality information that citizens can customize for their own needs, allowing them to take steps that can protect the health of their family. The service is especially helpful for people who are at greater risk from air pollution, including children, older adults, and people with heart or lung diseases, such as coronary artery disease or asthma. But everyone can benefit by taking steps to reduce exposure on unhealthy air quality days.

EnviroFlash provides air quality forecasts via e-mail and pager, allowing individuals to make plans based on information that is reliable and daily. The messages include the same local air quality forecast that is coordinated through television and radio news media. EnviroFlash is sponsored by EPA and the state and local air quality agencies that participate in the AIRNow program, and can be found at www.airnow.gov.

#1:Saves Natural ResourcesBy making products from recycled materials instead of virgin materials, we conserve land and reduce the need to drill for oil and dig for minerals.

#2 Saves EnergyIt usually takes less energy to make recycled products; recycled aluminum, for example, takes 95% less energy than new aluminum from bauxite ore.

#3Saves Clean Air and WaterIn most cases, making products from recycled materials creates less air pollution and water pollution than making products from virgin materials.

#4 Saves Landfill SpaceWhen the materials that you recycle go into new products, they don't go into landfills or incinerators, so landfill space is conserved.

#5 Saves Money and Creates JobsThe recycling process creates far more jobs than landfills or incinerators, and recycling can frequently be the least expensive waste management method for cities and towns.

Information taken from Louisiana DEQ websitehttp://www.deq.louisiana.gov/portal/tabid/2068/Default.aspx

Saturday, November 15, 2008

BOULDER – 10/6/08 – Homeowners battling against soaring energy prices and a struggling economy just gained a powerful new tool to help harness free, renewable energy from the sun, the wind and other sustainable resources.

The U.S. House and Senate just passed historic legislation that will massively increase the use of solar energy all across the America. Renewable energy provisions in H.R.1424 include an eight year extension of the 30% solar tax credit and removal of the monetary cap for residential solar electric installations. The President signed it into law on October 3.

The solar provisions in this bipartisan legislation will help position the U.S. as a global leader in the booming solar marketplace, generating thousands of green-collar jobs, promoting energy independence, and helping to tackle climate change.

"Renewable energy and energy efficiency are our economic drivers,” said Brad Collins, Executive Director of the nonprofit American Solar Energy Society. “I applaud members of Congress for coming together to extend the renewable energy tax credits that will strengthen the new energy economy and generate green jobs at a time when they’re needed most.”

Key provisions of this legislation will: * Extend the investment tax credit for residential and commercial solar installations for eight years (it was previously set to expire at the end of 2008) * End the $2000 cap on the investment tax credit for residential solar electric installations placed into service after December 31, 2008 * Allows filers of the alternative minimum tax to claim solar investment tax credits * Allows public utilities to claim the solar investment tax credits * Authorize $800 million in new clean renewable energy bonds and creates a new category of tax credit bonds called Qualified Energy Conservation Bonds to finance state and local initiatives to reduce carbon emissions * Extends deductions for energy efficient commercial buildings * Establishing a new tax credit for purchasers of plug-in electric-drive vehicles * Extends research and development tax credits

ABOUT THE AMERICAN SOLAR ENERGY SOCIETY:For more than 50 years the American Solar Energy Society has been leading the renewable energy revolution. It is the nonprofit organization dedicated to increasing the use of solar energy, energy efficiency, and other sustainable technologies across the U.S. ASES leads national efforts to promote solar energy education, public outreach, and advocacy. www.ases.org

Coming soon, your one-stop information spot on the net for all things "Green" in Louisiana. Information is power. Here at Louisiana Green it is our goal to give you the information that you need to make informed choices with living green, sustainable, and healthy.

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Mississippi Solar Energy Society

The Truth about Cypress

According to the Louisiana Forestry Association Louisiana's Cypress Forests are growing six times as fast as trees are being harvested. Read the facts here.

Louisiana Public Television

The links below are for podcasts that pertain to environmental issues in Louisiana including solar, wind, environmental architecture, and energy efficiency. These are excellent stories about green living in Louisiana. All have great information and ideas.

Gardening Tip

Gardening is a great way to take care of yourself and your family. These companies offer heirloom and organic seeds for your garden. Tired of tasteless, dead food? Try growing these fruits and vegetables and bring flavor back into your life. Remember what a tomato or cucumber really tastes like. Enjoy the sweet taste of ripe fruits and vegetables grown by you.